Oakridge Boys

We slogged up the Alpine access road for 15 miles and 6000 vertical feet, while shuttlers droned past us, probably taking as much time to arrange their vehicles as it did for us to climb. For most of the ascent a dense fog was draped upon us, with only occasional bursts of heatlamp sunshine.

Now, drenched with sweat and clouds, it was time for the glorious descent.


First came slow rolling grades and fields of bunchgrass


Then sustained, twisting, hand-fatigueing high-speed singletrack. Scant time for photo breaks here...




When it was done, a relaxing lunch-break, and then a seemingly endless discussion about how to properly finish the day. Some argued for shuttling a different downhill, others for calling it good and stuffing our faces with Foot-long's. Finally we settled on a short ride at Flat Creek, which the map showed was a 2.5 mile climb to good views, with an elevation gain of 1250 feet, which my tired brain calculated incorrectly as a moderate 5% grade. But of course it was really closer to 10%, and the steady steep climb in heat of the day nearly finished everyone off. The swooping downhill on the return leg re-energized us somewhat, and after that it was off to face-stuffing.